40 Days Pondering the Fruit of the Spirit
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days PONDERING the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Day 22 | CLOTHE YOURSELF WITH LOVE
40 Days PONDERING the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Day 22 | CLOTHE YOURSELF WITH LOVE
CLOTHE YOURSELF WITH LOVE
Colossians 3:14-15
“Above all, clothe yourselves with Love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” (NLT)
I find it interesting that the apostle Paul says in the NLT version “clothe yourself with love.” The NASB says: “put on love.” The Amplified says: “put on and wrap yourselves in unselfish love.” The Philips says: “be truly loving.”
This verse seems to be making the point that the love of the brethren is not as much a “feeling” as it is a decision. You DECIDE to clothe yourself with Love, put it on, or wrap yourself in it. This kind of LOVE is not something that just happens to you… it’s something you make happen. It’s a CHOICE.
The world teaches us that LOVE is a feeling (of course, it is) and that WE are subject to the whims of “love.”
Paul is teaching the Colossians – and indeed us too – that we need to PUT ON LOVE as we might put on a jacket before going out into the cold. And that kind of Love will “bind us all together in perfect harmony.” Now, who wouldn’t want that?
The world today is a mess. Although love, harmony, peace, and thankfulness are mentioned in today’s Scripture and are HIGHLY DESIRED qualities by nearly everyone YOU or I know, most people I know are NOT Living or walking in it. Even Believers are NOT “clothing themselves in love.”
How can you change that for yourself? I would suggest asking the LORD to help you focus on “always be thankful.” As you practice being thankful, it is easier to “clothe yourself” appropriately.
PRAYER: LORD, I do want the perfect harmony which You offer. I do desire to have Christ’s peace rule in my life. Show me daily how to apply this verse and thus enjoy what you present here. Amen.
Colossians 3:14-15
“Above all, clothe yourselves with Love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” (NLT)
I find it interesting that the apostle Paul says in the NLT version “clothe yourself with love.” The NASB says: “put on love.” The Amplified says: “put on and wrap yourselves in unselfish love.” The Philips says: “be truly loving.”
This verse seems to be making the point that the love of the brethren is not as much a “feeling” as it is a decision. You DECIDE to clothe yourself with Love, put it on, or wrap yourself in it. This kind of LOVE is not something that just happens to you… it’s something you make happen. It’s a CHOICE.
The world teaches us that LOVE is a feeling (of course, it is) and that WE are subject to the whims of “love.”
Paul is teaching the Colossians – and indeed us too – that we need to PUT ON LOVE as we might put on a jacket before going out into the cold. And that kind of Love will “bind us all together in perfect harmony.” Now, who wouldn’t want that?
The world today is a mess. Although love, harmony, peace, and thankfulness are mentioned in today’s Scripture and are HIGHLY DESIRED qualities by nearly everyone YOU or I know, most people I know are NOT Living or walking in it. Even Believers are NOT “clothing themselves in love.”
How can you change that for yourself? I would suggest asking the LORD to help you focus on “always be thankful.” As you practice being thankful, it is easier to “clothe yourself” appropriately.
PRAYER: LORD, I do want the perfect harmony which You offer. I do desire to have Christ’s peace rule in my life. Show me daily how to apply this verse and thus enjoy what you present here. Amen.